Huskies win regular season finale over Ducks
CALEB PEREZ | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 6 months, 3 weeks AGO
Huskies players cheer from the sideline following their road victory over the University of Oregon. UW prepares for their first game of the postseason Thursday morning.
COURTESY PHOTO/UW ATHLETICS
EUGENE, Ore. — The University of Washington Huskies (20-9) capped off regular season play with a 70-69 road victory over the University of Oregon Ducks (20-11). With this victory under their belts, the Huskies march into postseason play.
UW earned an early lead due in part from the efforts of Sayvia Sellers from the Huskies who came out of the first half shooting 6-for-6 from the floor and knocking down four three-pointers. The Ducks on the other hand started slow, shooting 28.6% and turning the ball over four times in the first quarter.
Things started to swing in Oregon’s favor by the second quarter as they shot 7-of-14, but Washington responded accordingly to every push to maintain their lead. By the end of the half, the Huskies led 36-27.
The Huskies scored twice to open the second half to take their biggest lead of the game 40-27, but then Katie Fiso from the Ducks started to take over scoring 13 points on 6-of-6 shooting in the third quarter. While UW was still in the lead, Oregon had cut deep into their lead multiple times before the end of the third quarter.
Oregon gained the lead for the first time in the game at 69-67 with 21 seconds left. The Huskies tied the game in the following drive and were saved in the final seconds of the game when Fiso fouled Devin Coppinger who sunk a clutch free throw to pick up the one-point victory.
Sellers was the top scorer of the afternoon with 29 points and led with five assists. Elle Ladine was the second Husky in double-digit figures, scoring 11 points, five rebounds and two assists. Seven Huskies recorded at least one bucket scored and Coppinger matched her season-high with nine points.
The Huskies were effective in shooting the ball finishing the night with 45.8% accuracy in the field and 33.3% from behind the three-point line. UW also forced 14 turnovers from the Ducks and seven steals as Huskies’ player Avery Howell led with three. Howell also led in rebounding with eight.
With Sunday’s victory, the Huskies earned their first 20-win season since 2016-17.
The Huskies traveled to Indianapolis for the Big Ten Tournament where they face USC Thursday at 9 a.m. where UW earned a 76-64 victory. Ladine was the top scorer for the Huskies Thursday morning shooting 25 points followed by Howell with 18 and Hannah Stines with 12.
The Ducks played Purdue in the Big Ten Tournament Wednesday and earned an 82-64 victory. Fiso once again led Oregon in shooting with 20 points followed by Ehis Etute with 16 and Mia Jacobs with 14.
Washington is set to face UCLA Friday at noon for the Quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tourney.
BOX SCORES
March 1
UW: 15-21-17-17: 70
UO: 9-18-20-22: 69
March 4
PURD: 12-12-25-15: 64
UO: 21-26-17-18: 82
March 5
USC: 6-14-16-28: 64
UW: 8-24-24-20: 76
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